More of Barcelona

Gina and I ventured out to see some of the famed architecture of Barcelona.

Don't forget to click on the images to see em full size!

This is Casa Mila (La Pedrera) which Gaudi was commissioned to build as an apartment building for the Mila family. The construction took four years and was completed in 1910. Today it is a museum and houses the main offices for the cultural foundation of Catalunya


Here's Gina on the streets of Barcelona


This is more Gaudi architecture, if you couldn't guess. This is one of the guard towers at the entrance of Parc Guell. Parc Guell was initially supposed to be a fancy gated housing developement but when the economy of Barcelona tanked during the early 1900's the construction halted.


There were musicians spread out all over the park. As we passed, the music would fade behind us only to be replaced by the next musicians song. It was like they knew how far apart to set up so that there wouldn't be any over lap but just a continuous sound track.


Looking out over the city from Parc Guell


Heres Gina relaxing and doing a little people watching.
Gina loves to people watch!... Huh, it doesn't sound creepy until you type it out.


This is from a path on the hillside above the plaza at Parc Guell












On the way out of Parc Guell we came across these guys playing didgeridoos. I don't get the appeal of that instrument.


This is Mercat de la Boqueria, a big farmers market off of La Rambla.


If you're squeamish you may want to end here.

You see, the people of Barcelona REALLY like meat...


well mainly pork...


and not just the normal stuff... all of it! Feet, heads, brain... you name it.

MMM, I feel like barbecuing!

Tune in next time for the conclusion of our trip.

Barcelona... Finally!

Hey folks,
It's been a long time coming but I've finally found the time and motivation to post pics from the second leg of Gina's and my trip to Europe. I present to you BarTHelona!


On our first day we explored the Barri Gotic which translated means the Gothic Quarter. This is the historical center of Barcelona and where the City was founded. The composition of many of the walls here are like a timeline. The stonework at the base of the building is Roman and the Goths and Catalonian governments built right on top of it hence the varied types of masonry.


Upclose detail of the ancient walls


This is Placa de Sant Jaume. On one side of the plaza is the city hall and on the other is the Palace of the Generalitat. This plaza has been the site of government buildings since Roman times.


La Plaça del Rei.


These are the steps where Columbus presented his findings from the new world to Ferdinand and Isabella.


There were musicians everywhere in the Barri Gotic and because of the acoustics of the narrow streets, it was rare to be without music.


This is the backside of La Cathedral. The reason you're not seeing the front is because it was shrouded in restoration tarps.


Heres Gina reading her guidebook again.


She sure loves a guidebook


The way the light fell onto the narrow streets reminded me of a slot canyon in the desert






Street performers in Barcelona are NO JOKE! The folks on the 3rd St. Promenade could learn a thing or two from these people.


This is the view from the balcony of our room in the late afternoon. Thats right, we stayed in the ghetto.


The thing about the Spanish is that they call it like they see it.

Thats all for now, next week I'll post more including our visit to Park Guell which is one of Gaudi's masterpieces.

Backstage cover shoot

Hey folks, heres the Backstage Magazine cover I recently shot along with some portraits at the top of the article. Click on the images to enlarge


Clockwise from top: Merritt Wever from Nurse Jackie, Josh Stamberg, Julian Sands, Mireille Enos from Big Love, Annette Bening and David Arquette


The article is for "The Female of the Species" which opened at the Geffen Playhouse last week.

Tune in next week for my pics from Barcelona

K&G go to P&B part three

Ok, day... I don't know, all the days started to run together after a few. We took a day trip to Rouen which is a city in Normandy and used to be the capital of France. Cool place with really nice people. I want to live there. It also happens to be the place where Joan of Arc met the British and was subsequently burned at the stake. Remember to click on the images to enlarge.

This cross was erected at the very spot where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake.


Street scene in Rouen. Charming


Not a straight building in the whole place. Makes me wonder what the inside looks like.


There were people selling holly all over the place. Not something you see in the good ole USA.


This was my favorite part of Rouen. This is an art school now but at one time this courtyard was used as a mass grave for bubonic plague victims! Over a third of Rouen's population was buried here during that era.


The detail on the building around the courtyard depicts morticians tools and skulls. Awesome!




This is the strange monument thing in the middle of the "Courtyard of Death!"


At the end of the street is Rouen's city hall


This is inside the Notre Dame of Rouen. What's that you say? There are two Notre Dames, one in paris and one in Rouen. I don't know which came first but the one in Paris is in a lot better condition.


A few years back the saints on the exterior of Rouen's Notre Dame started falling off the structure. So, to ensure the safety of its citizens and the statues, they have been removing and retrofitting each saint. In the meantime, the saints are inside the cathedral lining the walls around the altar. It was fantastic to see them up close.


Those swans are NUTS! It was about 32 F and they were just taking a swim.


Back in Paris checking out the Champs Elysees






This was hilarious. An American food store. Near as I could figure, all they sold was american junk food.


On our last day in Paris, Christmas day, we went to Pere Lachaise cemetery. This is where all the famous folk are buried like, Chopin, Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, etc.


Don't know who this is but I love the tomb.




This is Chopin's tomb.


After we were done looking at dead people we went to the Luxembourg gardens to have our Christmas day picnic. The reason we decided to have a picnic was partially because every restaurant worth eating at was closed. The other reason was because it's cool and how many people can say they had a picnic in Paris on Christmas day.

Gina is feeding a sparrow. Very trusting birds.


Awe, the mini statue of Liberty. Luxembourg gardens has statues all over the place.


Gina met this really cool French pigeon and they really hit it off. Here they are chatting and enjoying the day.


This is the Luxembourg Palace/ French Senate building


I think this may have been this kids first encounter with birds. They were all around him like a swarm of bees.

Later in the evening we hopped on the night train for Barcelona and thats where I'll pick up next week. Have a great weekend.